Remembering Duane Bodin (1932-2018)
The death of a long inactive performer with a fine career during Broadway’s Golden Age understandably went unnoticed. He was my neighbor in the 1980’s. [more]
One Long Extravaganza
All opinions in Darryl’s blog are his own and may conflict with an official review published on Theaterscene.net.
A native New Yorker, Darryl Reilly graduated from NYU with a BFA in Cinema Studies. For the Broadway League, (formerly The League of American Theatres and Producers) he developed, and for five years conducted their Broadway Open House Tours, which took visitors through The Theatre District and into several Broadway theaters. He contributed to Broadway Musicals Show by Show: Sixth Edition (Applause Books). Since 2013, he has reviewed theater, cabaret, and concerts for Theaterscene.net.
Reflections of Derek Jarman
The iconoclastic gay British film director sadly died 25 years ago today at the age of 52 from AIDS. Encountering him from afar made a great impression on me. [more]
Book review: “And One More Thing ” by Quentin Crisp
A delightful new collection of material from that flamboyant sage. There’s the script of his one-man show, unseen poems and pithy observations galore.
[more]
Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope
The young British actor Mark Farrelly brilliantly channels the 20th century cultural icon’s witty presence in his highly theatrical self-written solo show. [more]
The Return of Bina Sharif
Darryl Reilly, Critic “I’m not a real dancer but in this play, I celebrate my health.” Bina [more]
A 2018 Ten Best List
Darryl Reilly, Critic There were so many exceptional original plays among the 144 productions that [more]
If Loving Yule is Wrong, I Don’t Want to be Right
Darryl Reilly, Critic “Nothing brings you closer than almost breaking a hip together!” cracks [more]
“Don’t Call Me Shirley!: John Burns sings Shirley Bassey”
Darryl Reilly, Critic John Burns and William Demaniow at The Duplex. “At first glance, we don’t [more]
Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn’s Cultural Medallion Dedication
Darryl Reilly, Critic Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. “The Fourposter transformed our lives [more]
A Portrait of Maureen Stapleton
Darryl Reilly, Critic Maureen Stapleton by Raphael Soyer (1968) This striking portrait of Maureen [more]
Harold Pinter and Nicholas Hytner: Balancing Acts
Nicholas Hytner’s vivid accounts of two striking interactions with Harold Pinter are the standout highlights from his memoir, "Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at London's National Theatre." These revealing episodes will thrill devotees of the great and temperamental playwright. [more]
Doric Wilson: An Eminent Outlaw
Darryl Reilly, Critic Doric Wilson circa 2011. “Making magic out of nothing,” is how Doric [more]
Frank Langella is 80: A Stream of Consciousness Tribute
Darryl Reilly, Critic It is not widely known that among Frank Langella’s many accolades, [more]
A 2017 10 Best List
Darryl Reilly, Critic Looking back at the 128 performance reviews I wrote for Theaterscene.net in [more]
Book review: “The Last Word” by Quentin Crisp
The only thing in my life I have wanted and didn’t get was to be a woman. It will be my life’s biggest regret. If the operation had been available and cheap when I was young, say when I was twenty-five or twenty-26, I would have jumped at the chance. My life would have been simpler as a result. I would have told nobody. Instead, I would have gone to live in a distant town and run a knitting wool shop and on one would ever have known my secret. I would have joined the real world and it would have been wonderful. [more]
William Hickey: Reminiscences
Darryl Reilly, Critic “I have to go to L.A., to lose the Oscar to Don Ameche,” was William [more]
Steven Berkoff is 80: An Appreciation
Darryl Reilly, Critic There were so many brave young actors and actresses whom one felt were [more]
Laurie Lawrence (1959-2017)
Darryl Reilly, Critic “She was very clear that she wanted her life to be celebrated, not [more]
John Simon is 92 today
Darryl Reilly, Critic “For Darryl who isn’t Wally Shawn,” meticulously inscribed John [more]
Miriam Colón 1936-2017
Darryl Reilly, Critic Miriam Colón died recently at the age of 80. She was a great actress who had [more]
William Daniels: There I Go Again
Darryl Reilly, Critic You need to somehow get into a play, be seen in it, remembered for your [more]
Star Dust: A Ballet Tribute to David Bowie
Darryl Reilly, Critic Dazzling visualizations of nine, iconic songs are superbly choreographed by [more]
Joe Franklin and Me
Darryl Reilly, Critic SUNDAY With the countenance of a vintage stuffed owl and that of a [more]
Frank Langella’s EAG Memorial Address
Darryl Reilly, Critic “I’m profoundly grateful I’m not on it,” said Frank Langella during [more]
Anna Deavere Smith: My teacher in the 1980’s
Darryl Reilly, Critic “Hookers and drug addicts are all my agent sends me out for,” said Anna [more]
Hedda Lettuce and All About Eve
Darryl Reilly, Critic “She creeps me out!” quipped Hedda Lettuce upon the appearance of [more]
Aaron Frankel: A great acting teacher
Darryl Reilly, Critic “Speak up! Don’t look at the floor! When you’re onstage I want to see [more]
Woman in the Auditorium
So, throughout the rest of the tour when we were waiting for and riding on subway trains, the vibrant and spry Ms. Wallace recounted the story of how she made her Broadway debut at the age of 72. [more]
Anne Jackson: A Personal Remembrance
“I made Anne Jackson laugh!” was the euphoric finale to my story of auditioning to get into her scene study class in the early 1990’s. She sat at a small wooden desk in one of the creaky classrooms of the Bank Street building with her red hair and beaming face. [more]
“Do You Know Me?” by Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts’ “Do You Know Me?” book jacket Darryl Reilly, Critic A good [more]
Linda Lavin: Starting Over
Dressed in black slacks, a sequined white blouse and a gray blazer, the svelte, energetic, and soon to be 78 year-old Tony Award-winning stage and television star dazzled in an eclectic program of songs and anecdotes. Possessed of an outstanding, expressive character voice she was supported by an accomplished band. [more]
Divine/Intervention
The cult movie star’s last hours alive are dramatized in this harrowing fantasia with two powerful actors portraying the man and his alter ego. [more]
Theatre of the Unimpressed: In Search of Vital Drama by Jordan Tannahill
Darryl Reilly, Critic I found the simple, unadorned storytelling of a soft-spoken teenage girl in a [more]